September 16, 2013
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Domestic violence victims gained a new legal right this year - to be able to break a rental lease in order to get away from their abuser. By the end of this week, they should also be able to access free help on the Internet.
In five out of the last six years, the Silver State has topped the national list for a particular type of domestic violence fatality. It's an alarming statistic, said April Green, who directs the Domestic Violence Project at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.
"We're number one for homicides against women committed by men," she said, "and a lot of times, the victim's ability to get away from the abuser is the critical piece to staying alive."
Green says under the new measure passed by Nevada lawmakers, a person can break a lease as long as they act within 90 days of the domestic violence incident and follow the proper procedures in advising the landlord.
James Berchtold, supervising attorney, Clark County Civil Law Self-Help Center, said his staff has been busy preparing online documents that will soon go live at http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/CivilSHC/.
"On that website, there's going to be the requirements and the obligations of the landlords and the tenants," he said. "There's also going to be a sample letter that someone can actually fill out and send to the landlord, should they need to terminate their lease."
While the law presents a potential lifeline to many victims who have felt trapped by the economic penalties of breaking a lease, Berchtold pointed out that landlords also get protections.
"The law gives the landlord the right to go after the person who actually perpetrated the violence on the victim for any outstanding rent, any damages to the property," he explained.
He said the online documents are being finalized and should be posted at http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/CivilSHC/ by the end of this week. The Nevada homicide statistics were compiled by the Violence Policy Center.
More information is available at www.lacsn.org.
Mike Clifford, Public News Service - NV
- See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2013-09-16/social-justice/online-help-coming-for-nv-domestic-violence-victims/a34505-1#sthash.tDd5DH4y.d
